Scripps extends WNBA broadcast deal for Friday night games on ION

The E.W. Scripps Co. has entered into a new multi-year agreement with the Women’s National Basketball Association to continue broadcasting Friday night regular season games on ION.

Under the renewal, ION will remain the national network home for WNBA Friday night games, which have aired on the network since 2023. The agreement includes coverage of 50 regular season games during the current season as part of the WNBA “Friday Night Spotlight” series.

ION is available to more than 128 million homes through pay TV, connected TV, free ad-supported streaming platforms and over-the-air distribution. In addition to game broadcasts, the network also produces the WNBA on ION Studio Show, a weekly program dedicated to WNBA coverage.

The extension follows significant audience growth during the 2024 season, during which average viewership for Friday night games on ION increased by 133 percent year over year. More than 23 million unique viewers watched the games and related studio shows during the season, according to Scripps.

“The WNBA’s partnership with Scripps has already delivered great results in expanding the league’s reach and visibility,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a statement.

Adam Symson, president and CEO of Scripps, said the network’s collaboration with the league has “flourished” since 2023 and that the new agreement reinforces ION’s status as a primary destination for Friday night WNBA coverage.

The E.W. Scripps Co., headquartered in Cincinnati, operates a national television network portfolio through its Scripps Sports division. The company provides coverage for professional and collegiate sports organizations across local and national platforms.

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